Barbarians being Barbarians: Bibas family edition

Posted: February 20, 2025 by datechguy in Israel, Israel vs Hamas
Tags: , , , ,
Via the Jerusalem Post

Dude: He stepped in a puddle, all right. He’s the fellow we wanted. I guess this is his. A nice, fresh $50 gold piece. It’s just about what Burdette would figure a man’s life was worth. That’s earning money the hard way.
Sheriff Chance: Paid killer. Nice, fresh $50 gold piece. You, mister, you got one in your pocket?
Man who claimed the killer wasn’t there: Nobody paid me. Nobody!
Sheriff Chance: And nobody run in here, either, huh? [floors him with swing of his rifle barrel to the face]
Dude: Chance…
Sheriff Chance: Oh, I’m not gonna hurt him. Get up! [walking down the line of men] You’re all in it. The whole lot of you. You’re gonna get out of town. Take your boy here with you. You can tell Burdette you got Wheeler. You can tell him anybody else he sends, he’d better pay them more…because they’re gonna earn it.

Rio Bravo 1959

We now have it officially that our Palestinian friends have murdered the Bibas children and their mother (the father was released alive earlier) and will be returning their bodies along with the body of Oded Lifshitz today.

It will be interesting to see how apologists for the mass murders of Hamas , particularly those in the west and on US campus’ spin their kidnapping and murder of a six month old and three month old kid as just and right. Particularly since it can’t be denied that they were deliberately targeted and taken.

What’s even worse is their bodies are being traded for murderers and terrorists. Israel should from this day forward toss out life in prison and introduce the death penalty for terrorists so that they will never be in the position where you have to trade killers for the body of someone their allies kill.

I suspect the results of the autopsies on those children’s bodies will be almost as traumatic to the nation as their return.

I completely understand that Israel is doing all they can to get whoever is left alive back and that’s their call but the fact that they have not launched a war of extermination against these barbarians at their gates completely amazes me. If I was the PM of Israel and the lives and safety of the people of Israel were my responsibility the gloves would be off and as for humanitarian aid, food and water for those in Gaza? Not a drop, not a crumb for those who cheered, celebrated and still celebrate those who kidnapped those kids.

I suspect that the Palestinians will never see another $ of US aid during the Trump years and I suspect our relationship with Qatar who funded this horror will reap some nasty consequences, but not as nasty as they deserve.

News like this really stretches my ability to follow Christ’s command to love enemies and pray for them because such people are enemies of all humanity. I’ll obey the non-optional doctrine but I’m not going to pretend that I like it.

Closing Thought One: I kind of wonder if the decision to kill the man’s wife and children and leave him alive was deliberate as it would inflict the maximum possible pain on any husband and father. The only think that would surprise me about such a decision would be Hamas having the restraint to do so.

Closing Thought Two: Anybody surprised at these actions by the Palestinians/arabs in general and Hamas in particular simply has not paid attention for the last 80 plus years. This is who they are, this is who they always have been. You can’t change them, you can only make the cost of acting like barbarians too prohibitive to contemplate.

Note: This was going to be an “Under the Fedora” column with this as the first item but writing it stopped me cold in my tracks. How can you talk about or quip about anything else? What is more important than this?

Five Frozen Thoughts Under the Fedora Old in the Snow, Seriously Margaret et/al? Cutting the Financial Cord, Enlightened self interest US Canada Edition, Musk and Temptation

Posted: February 17, 2025 by datechguy in Uncategorized

Yesterday’s snow and ice reminded me of my age as I came in huffing and puffing after two stints outside to clean what I can. The snow, combined with freezing rain combined with artic cold really did a number on me. The wife’s back door was frozen open which complicated the day even more.

With me a few months away from 62 and carrying a newly discovered heart aneurism I’m going to have to start thinking about alternatives to me being out there for hours.

Did I actually see CBS’s Margaret Brennan of CBS go on national television and try to blame the rise of the Third Reich on free speech?

Has the media actually reached that low a point in terms of either ignorance or spin?

When I see things like that as the son of a man who served in the Pacific in World War 2 I not only shake my head but I’m reminded just how smart IKE was in making sure every solider saw what had happened at the death camps to make such revisionist history.

In fairness as part of the requirements of free speech Brennan and all those who are trying to rewrite the history of world war 2 including people who are with us on other issues like Carlson and Owens are entitled to their opinions and have a right to express them.

And I have the right to either call bullshit or to point and them and laugh or maybe both.

It’s been interesting to see the Democrat pivot to try to proclaim themselves as against waste and fraud and yet completely apoplectic over it being publicly revealed.

It’s pretty hard to defend the indefensible particularly when you see that there is basically an entire class of people who were making very comfortable livings off of phony program and phony non-profits funded by taxpayers while knowing that a lot of the pols complaining about Musk & co have managed to become rich off of jobs that pay a lot less then their net worth.

The spin will continue until they can find some kind of alternative way to fight but you can be sure they’re not going to give up this wealth without a fight so once the spin is over the next tactic will come.

A lot of fuss was made about the US vs Canada hockey game and the booing of our national anthem.

Now historically there was plenty of trouble between the US and Canada not just the war of 1812 but some Irish invasions via the US of Canada that were beaten back in the late 19th century but since World War 1 we’ve gotten on like a house on fire.

I propose a simply deal with our Canadian neighbors based on something rather normal. Self interest.

Let Canada work toward the best interest of Canada and let America work toward the best interests of America if both sides do that we’ll end up with fair deals that we can all live with.

Finally there is a lot of talk about Elon Musk and his love child and a lot of people banging their chests pointing at the sin of adultery as proof he should not be celebrated for what he is doing in government.

I have three things to say about that.

First of all we are no longer the nation we once were. There was a time when such a thing might have been disqualifying under the old rules. We have however been told repeatedly by our friends on the left that such things doesn’t matter by our friends on the left and is not disqualifying for service. This argument was lost by those of us who were for the old rule in the same way that the argument against ending the filibuster was. Apparently now they don’t like the new rules. Too bad.

Second of all when you are working for an object you want the best qualified person to do that job. I don’t ask the man fixing my breaks, or cooking my meal in a restaurant or plowing my streets if he goes to confession and says the act of contrition. I want a person who can do the job and do it will. Musk is that person.

Finally let me say this. I am very glad I am not the richest man in the history of the world. Because as a long married man I suspect that such a position would attract the attention of a rather large amount of highly desirable women offering their favors would be the dictionary definition of the “proximate occasion of sin.”

I’m happy not to have to worry about such a temptation.

Musk Gets the Arrows Johnson Turns The Flank

Posted: February 13, 2025 by datechguy in politics
Tags: , ,

 Radio Presenter: Twelve men were accidentally hanged at Whitby Assizes this afternoon whilst considering their verdict. This is one of the worst miscarriages of justice in Britain since Tuesday.

Monty Python’s Flying Circus Episode 35 The Nude Man 1972

Every day that passes Elon Musk seems to uncover a new big of outrageousness that surpasses the outrageousness of the previous one. It’s reached the point where:

All of this stuff is great and Kari Lake gets it

The text: Isn’t the easiest answer to why Jeffries is struggling to mount an Anti-Trump resistance is that the President, Elon, & DOGE have shut off the money tap for the astroturfed protest operations, &, it’s hard to fuel genuine opposition to an agenda that’s popular with the people?

but as I pointed out a bit ago:

All of these actions that Donald Trump has taken and he has taken many rather popular acts are completely reversible because they are by executive order.

If he wants them to stand beyond his presidency Trump needs to get these thing codified into law and the fact that the GOP house has not taken any action along those lines yet disturbs me.

Well apparently Johnson got the message:

We have a $36 trillion dollar federal debt. We have got to get ahold of these things. You’re going to see it reflected in the reconciliation package that comes forward, you’re going to see it reflected in the appropriations as we go forward, and you’re going to see it in these efforts to cut waste, fraud, and abuse.
And we think the final number on that is going to be substantial and a game changer in Washington.

The clear threat was in Johnson’s final sentence. A game-changer in Washington. DOGE isn’t the weapon, it’s just the canary in the limestone mine. Now that Congress knows where the waste is —like USAID, the National Endowment for Democracy, the Department of Education, DEI spending, the Treasury, Social Security, and the rest— legislators are working up a budget bill to nuke the Deep State from orbit.

It’s wonky, but this is very important. The fact Johnson announced a budget bill is critical. Bills related to reconciling the budget can be passed using a process called ‘budget reconciliation,’ which avoids the Senate filibuster and can be approved with a simple majority. In other words, it’s the Deep State’s worst nightmare: first, DOGE identified the bureaucratic bloat, and so now Republicans in Congress have a viable legislative path to cut the guts out of the bloated, mutant Swamp whale.

The folks at Coffee and COVID (via Insty) and that’s the bottom line.

If Johnson can keep the GOP in line (and I assume there are more than a few in on the graft) and get the bill out it’s game over for the left. Musk might get the headlines but Johnson can win the day and all the court cases against Trump will instantly become meaningless.

The irony? All of this is made possible because the can was kicked down the road on a government shutdown.

What USAID is Doing as Explained by Tip O’Neill and James Michael Curley

Posted: February 9, 2025 by datechguy in Always look at the bright side of Trump, Uncomfortable Truths
Tags: , , , , , , ,

Interviewer: Did he really [Robin Hood] steal from the rich and give to the poor?

2000 Year Old Man: No, he didn’t

Interviewer: He didn’t?

2000 Year old man: He stole from everyone and kept everything.

Interviewer: Well How did legend spring up that he was…

2000 Year Old Man: He had a fellow Marty, Marty the press agent, ran in all the papers he wrote in scrolls. ‘He took from the rich and gave to the poor’ who knew? He’d give you such a knock in a head when he robbed you you wouldn’t remember a thing.

Carl Reiner, Mel Brooks The 2000 Year old Man animated special 1975

One of the things I have argued for years is that nothing really changes because the things that drive humans haven’t changed, the only difference between a courtier of 1000 years ago and a deep state person of today is tactics and what the reward can bring.

A great example of this is USAID. The left is screaming that they are cutting live saving programs when what in fact is happening is the discovery of the giant Chicago style grift that’s been going on for decades but I suspect was accelerated greatly by the elevation of a corrupt Chicago pol to the highest office in the land.

The best way to understand how this grift works is compare what’s happening to something similar and I can’t think of anything that serves this purpose than one of Tip O’Neill’s stories concerning his relationship the legendary Boston mayor, Massachusetts Governor and US Congressman James Michael Curley.

O’Neill had been a protégé of Curley and knew him well. Ironically it was his decision to not expose Curley’s theft of a delegate election against his own group in 1948 that cemented his place within the Democrat party which aided his advancement. He tells many stories about Curley in his autobiography Man of the House (1987). This was the final one:

It happened in 1954 while I was in Congress. I came home for a few days to come home to campaign for reelection, and I ran into Curley on Beacon Street. He was, as people said in those days “on his uppers,” which meant that he didn’t even have enough money to fix the heels on his shoes.

Curley was a notorious thief but was also known for being a soft touch and giving money away particularly to the poor, so once he no longer had influence to sell things began to go hard for him. Tip continues:

Still he gave me a warm greeting. “How are you Tip? You’re going to win easy.”

“I hope so Governor, but I’m not taking any chances.”

“That’s smart of you, Tip and I’d like to give you a hand. Do I have your permission to raise a few dollars for your campaign?”

I assured him that would be fine.

Given that Tip O’Neill was an up and coming man in congress the idea that Curley was part of his fundraising crew would give the old man some clout in the area. Tip picks up the story…

The following Monday, he came to see me. “I raised five hundred dollars for you,” [a little over $5800 in 2024 dollars DTG] he said as he handed me an envelope. I thanks him and put it in my pocket. But when I counted the money I found that the envelope contained only $450. [$5250 in today’s dollars DTG]

The very same thing happened the following day, and the next, Curley didn’t show up on Thursday, but on Friday he cam in and said. “Here’s a thousand bucks for you.” By then I wasn’t surprised to she that his 10 percent commission had already been removed. I didn’t really mind because he obviously needed the money, Besides, I didn’t want to quarrel with my best fund-raiser.

So at that point we’re talking $2500 or in today’s dollars just under $30K with Curley presumably taking $3k for himself. Tip continues:

“By the way Governor.” I said to him the following week, “I’d like the names of these people so I can send them a thank-you note.”

“Oh you’re getting too smart. They’ve already been thanked.” And that was the last time I saw Jim Curley.

Now you might be thinking at this point: “Hey DaTechGuy. What’s the big deal. O’Neill got what he wanted, about $4500 bucks or $52 grand in today’s money and Curley got $5800 out of the deal? That’s doesn’t seem very significant, it certainly wasn’t to Tip who was happy to get that $4500 bucks.” And if the story ended here you might have a point but the story didn’t end here as Tip explains:

Several months later I was back home one weekend when a fellow came into my office to ask for help in straightening out a problem with one of the government agencies.

I’d never seen the man before so I asked if he lived in my district. “No.” he said. “I live in John McCormack’s district.” [House majority leader who would become speaker after Sam Rayburns death DTG]

“Then why don’t you go and see Mr. McCormack?” I asked.

“Well that’s a fine way to treat a friend.” he said, “after all I’ve done for you!”

“Excuse me,” I said “but what are you talking about?”

“Are you kidding? I gave you a big contribution during your last campaign.”

We had a list of every contributor, so I excused myself and asked my secretary to look up the fellow’s name. But there was no sign of him in our records. “You know,” I told him when I got back to my desk. “I don’t run my office on a quid pro quo basis. I do favors for people because they need my help, not because they contributed to my campaign. But the funny thing is I don’t even have your name in my book. Would you refresh my memory?“

“Sure.” he said “In your last election I paid for your television ads on the final two nights of the campaign.”

“You must be mistaken, ” I said. “You never paid for my television ads. I’ve never heard of you.”

“What do you mean?” he said. “Jim Curley came ot me and said he was raising money to put Tip O’Neill on television. And I’m the one who paid for your TV time the night you went on. Didn’t he give you my name?”

So THAT was it! I told him the story of how Curley had asked me for permission to raise money and how he had skimmed a little off the top. We both had a good laugh over that.

“Now I understand why you’ve never heard of me.” he said, “But I remember how much money I gave to Curley to pay for those ads, and let me tell you something. Jim Curley made out just fine. I’m afraid you were the one who was working for ten percent.”

In short Curley didn’t hit up this guy for $5000 and then give Tip O’Neill $4500. He hit up this guy for $50,000 ($583,000) in today’s money and kept $45,500. ($535,000) for himself. In other words 91% of that money was skimmed and only 9% actually went to Tip for his campaign

That’s pretty much what Elon Musk and his team is finding out. The Democrats and their press allies are screaming to the press and claiming with a straight face that useful items are at risk without acknowledging that they’re not worried about the 9% that might actually do good, they’re trying to protect the 91 cents out of every dollar that they are using as a slush fund. And believe me unlike Curley they aren’t given a portion of that 91% to the poor unless you count the portion given as tips given to waiters after an expensive meal or valets after parking the cars your tax dollars are paying for.

Closing thought. I highly recommend O’Neill’s autobiography if you have any interest in what of the leading figures of the Democrat party during they years when they actually gave a damn about regular people thought.

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